Paparocks' Favorite Rock

Blackbird wanted to see a rock for show and tell, so here it is:

This rock stands in the Kananaskis range of the Canadian Rocky Mountains between Calgary and Banff, near Chester Lake. It is known as The Praying Nun. You don't even really have to use your imagination too much. She's kneeling at an altar, with her hands folded neatly under her chin.

I came accross the formation while out hiking one day several years ago.

It's one of my favorite pictures, and definitley my favorite rock.

The Real Windy City

This is in response to Gabriela's post. She's not the only one who's lived somewhere with weird monuments.

I grew up in a small town on the prairies of southern Alberta Canada.

The wind was always blowing.

I have seen a golfer hit a shot into the wind that in calm conditions would have been a 250 to 300 yard drive, but because of the wind, only went about 50 feet.

As kids we used to hold our jackets out like sails and ride our skate boards under wind power.

The trees in town all tilted to the east, because the prevailing wind was from the west.

I hated the wind, but it gave us something to be proud of. Something we could complain about and brag about at the same time.

The town finally erected a monument to the wind - a giant wind gauge:



You think that's bad? We thought this was just little breeze. When it was sticking straight out, parallel to the ground... Now that was a WIND!!!!!

The Texas Weed Whacker Massacre

It was a lovely evening:



Temperature in the low 70's.

Light Breeze.

Blue Sky's.

The grass cutting was done:



The edges had been trimmed:



All that was left was a little cleanup around the fenceline:



And then it happened.

The Weed Whacker went wild, and when it was done, this is what my ankle looked like:



Yes, it hurts!.

No, I don't want to talk about it!

It just happened, OK???!!!!!!

I'm an idiot!

IT'S NOT "JUST STUFF"

How many times have I heard someone say, "Well, it's all "just stuff", as in "only" stuff???

Well, I beg to differ... It's not "just stuff", in fact it's way more than "stuff". Our houses are full of things that other's might call "stuff", but to us are priceless treasures because of what they represent, the memories they invoke, the feelings that they awaken inside of us. They are not "just stuff". Because they make us happy, remind us of where we came from, who we are and maybe even who or what we would like to become, if they were lost, or destroyed, as they can be and sometimes are, we would feel a great loss, because many of them cannot be replaced. Yes, we may still be able to remember them, or the place, person or event that made them special to us, but over time the memories may dim and we might miss the "stuff", wishing we had it back again to help us remember.

Here's some of our "stuff" - not all of it by a long stretch, but then, this blog is not big enough for all of it. In no particular order of importance, because they are all important. Some of it is on display in our home. Some of it is kept in closets. Some of it is in special boxes that we keep this kind of stuff in so that from time to time we can pull it out and remember:

The Jade Grizzly reminds me of the Canadian Rockies and the many wonderfull times I spent there as a child and an adult, and of the times and feelings I had when I actually saw a live grizzly in the wild.



The glass disc reminds me of our year in Venezuela. It wasn't ALL bad. In fact there was probably more good than bad.



The antique clock that belonged to the old woman that grammy shared a room with for 7 years while she was growing up, and learned to tell time on. Oh, the memories this one holds!



Magic kalaidescope, complete with letter from Papa.



The baseball glove that I keep around even though I never played much, but keep just in case the grandson's (OK, and daughters) might want to play catch with Papa when they come to visit.



Lakes Moraine and Louise - two of the most beautiful places on earth. Filled with memories.



The stupid horn your Dad brought you home from his trip to Portobello Road in London.



Smiley Face lamp, Canadian Flag, stuffed animals, hope chest...... the list goes on.



Quite possibly our most memorable family vacation - Summer 1994.



To remember that we were once little and someone loved us enough to present us to the world in the very best. These are Grammy's baby booties.



A dresser full of "stuff" - every piece meaningful!



Reminder of vacations at the shore:



The friendship bracelets my daughters made for me. Yes, I kept them all these years.



And who wouldn't want and cherish a "Flagon with a Dragon".



Family pictures.





Many of these things were given as gifts. Some were purchased as souvenirs and remembrances of trips and special occaisions. Some were inherited. Some were just picked up along the way. All are special to us.

"Just Stuff"???? I think not!!!!!!

I'm sure you all have your own stuff. Treasure it!